While I don’t personally care for the idea of multiple lures on one line, my real objection lies in the ability to verify it is being done within the established guidelines. (read into this legally vs illegally)
Yes, by and large I like the people in our group. I feel our members are a cut above those from other groups. But I also know that good people can make bad decisions when under adverse circumstances. Plus, (I’ll say for the record what I think each and every one of you believes) there are some people I don’t trust as much as others.
When someone throws a dropshot or a Carolina rig using a jig for a weight and another bait trailing (or leading), it’s fairly easy to see that there are not more than two objects going into the water. However, when someone throws an A-rig with five, six, or more pieces of plastic dangling from the spreaders, it’s impossible to tell how many have hooks are on the rig. Even from a very close distance.
I was slammed when for suggesting we make it allowable for a boat witnessing a person(s) throwing an A-rig to verify the amount of hooks being used. “How dare you suggest someone might be cheating! Don’t you trust your competitors? What’s wrong with you?”
Funny thing I would be lambasted for that idea. After all, it was my call throughout the many years I ran the club that we never had a livewell check in the morning prior to the tournament. But a couple years ago the same person leading the charge for the decrease of the creel limit asked for, and was granted permission to perform livewell checks prior to the tournament.
Do you think Don is interested in seeing what you are eating for lunch or if you are keeping your livewell clean? Hell no! He wants to make sure you are not cheating! Why didn’t you get upset with this? After all, aren’t we all friends? Don’t we all trust each other?
I don’t know about you, but I think that even the most stupid person in the world would not put fish or bait in a livewell going into a tournament. Nobody is that dumb. If someone is going to hide something it’s not going to be in the livewell.
However, I have found multiple fish cages through the years. Multiple! So, someone, somewhere has staked out fish. Somebody or a group of somebody’s has cheated us. I hope it has been during tournaments from other clubs, but I don’t know that for certain.
Why is it that major tournaments, with the most respected anglers in the country, have witnesses in the boats? It’s not because the tournament circuits want to have people get lessons in angling, that’s for sure.
Are you surprised every time a politician gets indicted for fraud, corruption, or embezzlement? Are you shocked when the news reports a member of the clergy being accused of molesting a child? If so, I truly apologize that I have offended you by not giving everyone my absolute and unwavering trust. Me, I would rather make it as difficult as possible for someone to do something wrong, no matter who gets upset by it.
